But Robinson who outdueled Pierce for overall honors by a 19:28-19:37 margin, will not be running competitive distance races until the track-field season as soccer remains his first love in athletics.

I love soccer and we are going to have a very good team, said Robinson.

It was a good race today. She (Laura Pierce) is very fast.

Pierce, who is considering her collegiate options for next fall, is excited about running on one of the best Canton Central Girls Cross Country teams ever anchored by Pierce, Gemma and Rebecca DelRossi and Maria Ricalton who combined to establish a Section 10 record in the 4x800 relay in spring track.

I am really looking forward to the season. We have our relay team from last spring, other good returning runners and two new merger students in Madrid-Waddingtons Cassidy Scott who ran indoor track with us and Hunter Hitchman of Clifton-Fine who should help us, said Pierce who was joined at the leaderboard by her mother Sue Pierce and father Paul Pierce who both took second in their respective 50-59 age group.

It should be a lot fun.

Also receiving special awards matching the weekend theme of I Love This Town were the Female and Male Walk leaders in Sue Kelly of Heuvelton and Alan Mooney of Ogdensburg, seven year old Connor Bell who was the Youngest Competitor, Steve Teele of Lisbon and Ron Reid of Waddington who were the Oldest Competitors and Bridget Gordiman who was cited for running her first 5K at age 53.

NOTES: Karen Matthews of Ogdensburg completed the race at 35 weeks pregnant and said that this was her last race until the baby is born. I will keep exercising but the baby could possibly come at anytime now and I dont think it would be a good idea to go into labor running on a backroad. But I felt great out there today, she said with a smile...Wayne Latham, the 30-39 division leader who placed fourth overall, completed a very successful first year of competitive road racing. I ran my first one here last year said Latham who has run in the top of 10 of races throughout the summer...The Lisbon Central Boys and Girls Soccer teams both ran enmasse at the race and will start practice on Monday...following the awards Mike Backus announced that he was stepping down as event organizer and is looking for someone to replace him. Anyone interested should contact Backus at mmb@mortbackus.com.